The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer--And Back

Rating:
Summary: a mind-blowing odyssey
Review: Kathy Rich's journey through cancer is remarkable, mind-blowing, both surreal and earthy, filled with marvels as well as demons. This is the kind of book that you wish would go on forever. Rich is a superb storyteller with delightfully idiosyncratic perceptions, an eye for detail worthy of Jane Austen, and a rapier wit. Despite the tragic subject, she's one of the funniest writers I've ever read, as well as the bravest. Kathy Rich has defined "Cancerland" for all time.

Rating:
Summary: An Uplifting Memoir
Review: Knowing that I would be in attendance (as I have been for the past few years) at the 18th Annual Key West Literary Seminar on, "The Memoir," I planned my Fall reading line up to include the works of several participants, among them, Kathy Rich. As a published memoirist and afficionado of biography and memoirs, I approached "The Red Devil" with reservations. Ordinarilly I would not have chosen a work that I thought might be depressing. On the contrary, Kathy Rich has shared with her readers an in-depth portrait of her battle with cancer which is totally uplifting. The word alone strikes fear - I remember as a child how adults, speaking of another's illness, always whispered the word "cancer." I also remember how family members and friends who contracted the disease, were not told about it. We've come a long way in medical science, ethics, and psychology, where today's patients are informed of their ailments along with sometimes dismal prognoses. How one handles this knowledge is of paramount importance in the treatment of the disease. The sub title of the book, "To Hell With Cancer - and Back," expresses her approach to a scary and unpredictable future. Going through the multitude of tests, treatments, and prognoses, the reader experiences both the angst and the satisfaction of beating the odds. Reading this book, a testament to the power of the human spirit, is in itself a rewarding experience - and that makes this memoir extraordinary.

Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Story
Review: This book was recommended to me by my sister, a breast cancer survivor. She said it was the best book she had read about a woman with breast cancer. My sister is correct. Katherine Russell Rich has hightened my awareness of the breast cancer experience. Every health care provider should read this book, especially physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, especially if they work with cancer patients. Unlike others who have reviewed this book, I not only could "put it down," I had to put it down often. It was a story so powerful and emotional, I could only take it in parts, but it delivers a very important message. Katherine Russell Rich, thank you for writing and sharing your story.